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The differences between maintenance machinists and tool makers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a maintenance machinist, becoming a tool maker takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a tool maker has an average salary of $52,443, which is higher than the $52,077 average annual salary of a maintenance machinist.
The top three skills for a maintenance machinist include CNC, grinders and hand tools. The most important skills for a tool maker are grinders, jigs, and hand tools.
A Maintenance Machinist is responsible for implementing and maintaining industrial machinery. Their primary duties include investigating and diagnosing equipment failures and performing corrective actions.
The job of a toolmaker is to make precision tools, holding devices, and special guides that are used in the manufacturing process. You will be responsible for repairing, maintaining, and improving jigs, fixtures, and fittings for press tools and all tooling dies, conducting routine regrinding and servicing of tools, and ensuring compliance with all quality standard regulations. In addition, you may be tasked to operate lifting equipment and forklift truck and document die history and other relevant records. You will also be responsible for conducting preventative maintenance.
Maintenance machinists and tool makers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Maintenance Machinist | Tool Maker | |
| Average salary | $52,077 | $52,443 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $74,000 | Between $40,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Kent, WA | Sterling Heights, MI |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | City of Seattle | General Electric |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a maintenance machinist and a tool maker in terms of educational background:
| Maintenance Machinist | Tool Maker | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 31% | Associate Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between maintenance machinists' and tool makers' demographics:
| Maintenance Machinist | Tool Maker | |
| Average age | 48 | 54 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.0% Female, 6.0% | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 70.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 2.4% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 2.7% White, 84.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |